The networked information economy breaks new ground in the way income is derived from information - be that information be in the form of news, music or football games. We know the characteristics of that economy - information is free - if you have the technology you can access a host of information at no cost or a nominal cost. A global digital commons has evolved that challenges the established media companies.
However, there is simply too much money involved for established companies to sit back and watch their incomes being eroded by the new technology, hence the concerted effort to use their resources to create a new enclosure movement, an enclosure movement that aims to shut out non market, commons based production emerging in the networked information economy.
The legal challenge to prevent Optus transmitting sporting events is just the latest battle in the attempt to control the digital economy.
Whilst it may seem a good thing for Sport to restrict Optus from transmitting games - one has to ask whether or not it would be better to keep the networked information economy free.

BAYGON every action has a reaction.
Those who play sport or want to watch it are just as threatened by optus as anyone.
All sport grows feeds and lives or dies based on the money it can produce from these sources of income.
Long before the digital economy, maybe even before the first personal computer, it has been so, to a lessor but important degree.

mate its all just spin the bottle
yes we can record..and chose to play back when we like..[now]

but the powers that love special powers
they will find ways to turn their power into cash
i dont want to give them idea's..like downloads..must acces a site

[and sites know!@,..who we are..
who our serrvice provider is..etc

can block us/
edit the vision...adapt commentary..etc etc
in short moniter everything..[in real time]

the game is changing ol mate
recall we all go dig'etal/..tv..soonish

then all that new spectrum..will be released
if you recieved tv...you gotta recieve the web..[via that specrum]

but the cost of that spectrum
thats the huge key mate

those in high traffic areas
will pay billions..for the airspace
and those in areas like yours will go for a song

except then
you need to become a service provider
[and your govt mates have set that game up..so bying in
will cost you lot...in low desity areas..NEEDING THE SERVICE]
compared to the cheapnness..of that actual/old tv specrum bandwidth

in the end you will still have little ol mate
and costing ya the earth

heck when signapure[singe/yapoor][opt-us]
a govt..sells us web acces..prices our fuel price
accordinmg to their super priced fuels...[and how much more]

ya just know
its not about getting us online
as much inline[sukkers only please]
the more greedy ya dowload..the cheaper it gets

sure waste the air space
your chose when/how you chose
ommoung the many options[not],..they let you chose

we [they]..use
your super contribution
to make you pay the earth for acces to services

cause its all about the shareholder..and who votes on the share..is you nor me paying for it...when their scam is to stop you hearing the truth

putting up mindless sports
knowing the sporting dummies first
cause the loyalist sports fan..cant reason

if the odds..to chose between..
are a gamble..between this sport or that rort

ya ya/das capital
charge you the earth
or*..returning value..back to right

I find myself agreeing with Belly. The money the sports clubs invest is returned by their sale of the entertainment value of the broadcasts, and some protection is warranted as for film and music producers.

This value is time dependent, and while I agree that the "live" value will completely expire say after an hour, it has not after 1 second, and probably not completely after 2 mins. This requires some thought, that protects the right to rebroadcast information and the property rights of the content providers. The exact time I will leave to those more qualified to comment.

'All sport grows feeds and lives or dies based on the money it can produce from these sources of income.'

Professional sport.

I seem to remember Rugby League players having jobs. It was just as entertaining, in fact I believe more so. People used to go to the grounds and watch too, and they weren't charged an arm and a leg. Jerseys of you favourite team didn't cost $100+ and change every year either.

I knew you were a lefty SM!

'some protection is warranted'

Is protection warranted for 'The Arts' if the product isn't being supported by the populace? Or do you want protection via copyright and intellectual property rather than tax dollars?

'Cricket Australia' is making a motza when the 'Australian' cricket team, representing 'Australia' could be making a motza for the government with all that Indian money.

Maybe then we wouldn't have players like Simon Katich being censored and denied their right to free speach. Damage to 'The Product' and 'Bringing the game into disrepute' is just as worrying as governmnet censorship.

Nope, give me turning up to Leichardt oval for $10.50 to watch a packed game between Balmain ans Souths, than paying $38.50 for an empty Stadium Australia and $8 beers or Foxtel. They turn people away from the ground with high prices, and then they still get the corporate boxes money and force the plebs to buy Foxtel. Sport for the rich and advertising to the plebs!

The party's over lads! 'The Product' really isn't any better than before the 'professional' era and the rivers of gold are about to run dry.

Music, movies, sport, all this 'Entertainment' used to cost a tenth of the price and be more rewarding. Once upon a time it was even free.

I agree Houelle, it was better when it was sport.

In the country on Monday you would buy your groceries from the five eight, & your meat from the hooker of the local team. The game was even played in such a way that players expected to be able to turn up for work on Monday, rather than for the knee reconstruction.

Sure most towns had a council worker who was a fading top line "city" player, now getting another couple of years as captain/coach of a country team, before retirement. They needed a council job, because they didn't get enough to live on from the "sport".

When the Super League court case showed how it was all just a business I lost interest. I even stopped watching in on TV, & have not gone back.